Mr. Brown Returns

No doubt Detroit rapper Danny Brown likes to party, evidenced by tracks like “Blunt After Blunt,” “Smokin & Drinkin” and “Die Like A Rockstar.” With an increasing fan base and his fourth studio album just released Sept. 30, it seems like the 35-year-old has no plans of halting the fun bus anytime soon.

Although still producing hearty bangers, it’s clear that Brown is stepping in a new direction. His new album Atrocity Exhibition, named after the Joy Division song,came out on Warp Records, an English label known for the experimental electronic and IDM, or intelligent dance music, of artists like Aphex Twin and Boards of Canada. And recent singles from Brown’s upcoming LPdefinitely show some of that influence.

For example, “When It Rain” features less trap-esque, sustained bass drops and a more frantic (almost anxious) and intimidating electronic sample over which Brown breathlessly flows with his signature twang.

Although more alternative than previous releases, Atrocity Exhibition features big-name collaborations with the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Earl Sweatshirt, showing that Brown’s come a long way from self-releasing a plethora of mixtapes.

Live, Brown’s a whirlwind of energy that makes him well-suited to the larger stages he’ll be performing on throughout his tour: the Roseland Theater in Portland, The Knitting Factory in Spokane, House of Blues in Chicago. But, interestingly enough, Brown also has plans to bust through the more intimately sized WOW Hall in Eugene.